Chapter 6, page 69
Ɣ The schemas also indicate where there is a range of different possibilities. The bird schema indicates
that birds have a range of different kinds of beaks and a range of different kinds of feet. It also
indicates that birds make sounds ranging from raucous caws to lovely songs.
Ɣ The schemas typically identify some causal relations. Birds’ feathers are causally relevant to their
ability to fly. Webbed feet enable birds to thrive in water.
Ɣ They typically include some imagery (McVee, Dunsmore, & Gavelek, 2005). Although bird schemas
express what is generally true of most or all birds, they are not purely abstract. Features such as
beaks, wings, and feet can give rise to specific imagery such as what a prototypical beak looks like or
what common bird songs and calls sound like.
Table 6.2 presents three other examples of schemas.
Table 6.2:
Examples of schemas that an American student might have
Component Examples of schemas
of schema Democracy Going to recess A novel
Important
features
All democracies have some
kind of free elections.We usually go get our
coats, get balls and other
equipment, go outside, and
play for a short period of
time.Novels have a plot with
characters. In the plot, the
characters usually face
some problem that they
must solve. There is also a
setting.
Typical
examples
The U.S. is a prototypical
democracy.Going outside on the
playground to play is
prototypical.A typical example is To
Kill a Mockingbird.Range of
possibilities
Democracies may range
from complete participation
to representative
democracy.The location can vary
between going outside and
going to the gym. Most but
not all students play games
with balls.The novel may range from
around 100 pages to well
over 1000 pages.Causal
relations
Free elections are needed to
ensure that politicians listen
to the will of the people.Recess is not done in the
classroom because it’s too
hard to play athletic games
in a cramped space.Features such as character
development and a problem
to solve are what make a
novel interesting.
Imagery Imagery may include
politicians speaking and
going to the polls.
Images of playing games
such as kickball and dodge
ball.The actions of characters
can be vividly imagined.Different people have different schemas for the same concept. An ornithologist’s schema for bird
will be much more complex and elaborate than a second grader’s bird schema. A child living in Minnesota
may think of a sparrow as a very prototypical bird whereas a child living in the Brazilian rainforest may
instead view a parrot as a very prototypical bird.
People’s schemas can also be incorrect. A young child may think that penguins are not birds
because they do not fly. A middle school student may have a schema for matter that does not include
molecules. A teacher may have a schema for teaching that says that students are empty vessels into which
they should pour knowledge. When schemas are incorrect, we say that students have alternative
conceptions. We will discuss alternative conceptions in the next section.